NEW DIRECTIONS FOR THE STATE TREE MORTALITY TASK FORCE
The Task Force has been active since 2015 providing direction and coordination to public agencies, utility companies and private entities attempting to cope with the massive tree mortality affecting the Sierra Nevada. Recent changes to the Task Force are in direct response to an Executive Order issued by Governor Brown in May 2018 requiring the formation of a Forest Health Management and Restoration Task Force. That mandate in turn was a response to the issuance of a report by the Little Hoover Commission in December of 2017. In that report the Commission calls for a transformational culture change in the implementation forest management activities across the state. The Little Hoover Commission’s findings and conclusions reinforce the views of many scientists and forest
managers regarding the current unhealthy conditions of the state’s forests. The excessive tree
mortality is indicative of the relatively poor health of the state’s forested landscapes.
The new task force is being organized and will include representatives from federal, state, and local entities who will form a partnership to find ways to actively manage forest landscapes to improve forest health and fire resiliency. Due to this shift in priorities, the State Tree Mortality Task Force will become a sub-group of the newly formed Task Force. CAL FIRE representative Kevin Conway, who currently leads the state-wide Tree Mortality Task Force will remain the head of the sub-group.
Work that is currently being performed to protect state and county infrastructure (removal of dead and dying trees affected by years of drought and bark beetle infestation) will continue. The Governor’s Emergency Declaration that stimulated the creation of the Tree Mortality Task Force and enabled public agencies and utilities to obtain grant funding from the California Disaster Assistance Act to deal with hazardous dead trees is still in effect and is not expected to be terminated any time soon.
managers regarding the current unhealthy conditions of the state’s forests. The excessive tree
mortality is indicative of the relatively poor health of the state’s forested landscapes.
The new task force is being organized and will include representatives from federal, state, and local entities who will form a partnership to find ways to actively manage forest landscapes to improve forest health and fire resiliency. Due to this shift in priorities, the State Tree Mortality Task Force will become a sub-group of the newly formed Task Force. CAL FIRE representative Kevin Conway, who currently leads the state-wide Tree Mortality Task Force will remain the head of the sub-group.
Work that is currently being performed to protect state and county infrastructure (removal of dead and dying trees affected by years of drought and bark beetle infestation) will continue. The Governor’s Emergency Declaration that stimulated the creation of the Tree Mortality Task Force and enabled public agencies and utilities to obtain grant funding from the California Disaster Assistance Act to deal with hazardous dead trees is still in effect and is not expected to be terminated any time soon.
AMADOR COUNTRY TREE MORTALITY PROJECT UPDATE SUMMARY
The table below summarizes current and pending County tree removal projects as of February 2019. Project 8A on Forest Service land along Bear River Road was completed in November 2018. Over 900 trees were removed. Project 8B on Bear River Road includes over 1000 trees but work has been suspended due to snow cover. Project 9A in the Pioneer area was awarded to a contractor and will begin in mid-to late February 2019. An invitation to bid will be issued for Project 9B by late February.
NEW- Governor Brown's May 10, 2018 Executive Order B-52-18
Governor Brown issued an Executive Order on May 10, 2018 directing state agencies to improve forest management and restoration, provide regulator relief, reduce barriers for prescribed fires, boost education and outreach to homeowners, and support wood products innovation. Read the Executive Order by downloading the document below.
| 5.10.18 Executive Order |
End of Year Report of Tree Mortality Program
Over the past year six projects were completed. They involved the cutting and removal of 2135 trees. Two additional projects are underway, one on Forest Service land along Bear River Road (Project 8B) and the second in the Pioneer area (Project 9A). Project 8B has been delayed due to winter conditions and will resume when access is available. Project 9A has been awarded to West Coast Arborists and will begin in mid- to late February. These projects include 1485 trees. Four more projects are planned for the upcoming months. Along with Project 9A, they will encompass all County roads and private land east of Highway 49. The next project in the Fiddletown area will include 373 trees. An invitation to bid will be issued for that project within the next couple of weeks. Right of entry forms were mailed to 649 properties where newly dead trees were located subsequent to the last round of projects. Of these 457 had been returned as of January 17 (70 percent). The right of entry form process is being coordinated between the County, Amador County Transportation Commission and TSS. The five projects underway or planned on private land over the next few months include new properties with newly dead trees as well as properties that participated in past projects and have newly dead trees. When all projects on private land east of Highway 49 have been completed, surveys will be conducted on land west of Highway 49 and on Forest Service and private land in the Silver Lake-Kirkwood area. Depending on the outcome of those surveys, additional tree mortality mitigation projects will be developed. All projects completed to date have been implemented with no serious damages to private property, very few complaints from property owners and no injuries to workers. All project costs have been reimbursed by the State Office of Emergency Services and CAL FIRE. To further public outreach, TSS has been provided with the ability to maintain and update the County’s tree mortality website. TSS is also providing periodic updates on the program through press releases. We continue to benefit from the technical assistance of County administrative and financial staff and Cindy Engel of the Amador County Transportation Commission. Without this assistance our projects would not be successful.
PG&E DEBRIS MANAGEMENT
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PG&E has updated their debris management program. See the attached PDF for more details.
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OUTLETS FOR YOUR WOOD
See the attached file for an example list of commercial enterprises that receive logs and/or biomass material near Amador & Calaveras County.
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CONTRACTORS THAT WILL DELIVER YOUR LOGS TO THE AMPINE FACILITY
UPDATED! The attached file contains a list of contractors that will pick up and deliver logs on your property to the Ampine Facility in Sutter Creek to be made into particle board.
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Winter conditions are resulting in more frequent instances of failing trees affecting public roads and private properties
RIGHT OF ENTRY (ROE) FORMS
There are over 180 properties with dead trees potentially affecting County roads where owners have not returned Right of Entry forms to allow the assessment of dead trees and their removal. Dead trees along County roads on private property not only represent a threat to the roads but they are a liability to the property owner. If trees fall and damage roads or cause damage or injuries to travelers, the private property owner may be responsible for compensation. In some cases, trees that threaten County roads also threaten houses and other assets. If you receive a Right of Entry form you are urged to return it as soon as possible. The benefits of the County program include removal of the trees at no cost to the property owner and alleviation of
the hazards posed by the trees. To download the ROE form and directions on how to submit it visit the following: Right of Entry Form
the hazards posed by the trees. To download the ROE form and directions on how to submit it visit the following: Right of Entry Form
Governor issues a declaration that allows both licensed tree service companies and licensed timber operators to bid on any and all projects, whether they are commercial or not!
Green Waste Disposal
The Amador County Air Pollution Control District has a program for disposing of green waste, including cut up limbs and slash generated from tree removals. The material is taken to Vicini Brothers for conversion into chips and compost. The District has four disposal bins located at the following locations:
1. Road turnout on Silver Dr, 1/2 mile off Hwy 88 on west side of road
2. 13026 Tabeaud Rd. at Pine Acres maintenance building
3. 23141 Shake Ridge Road, Lockwood Fire Station #1
4. 350 Hanford Street, Sutter Creek Fire Station
The bins are only available for use by homeowners, not landscape companies.
1. Road turnout on Silver Dr, 1/2 mile off Hwy 88 on west side of road
2. 13026 Tabeaud Rd. at Pine Acres maintenance building
3. 23141 Shake Ridge Road, Lockwood Fire Station #1
4. 350 Hanford Street, Sutter Creek Fire Station
The bins are only available for use by homeowners, not landscape companies.
Amador County Tree Mortality Mitigation Geographic Information System (GIS) Maps have been posted!!
AMADOR COUNTY TREE MORTALITY MITIGATION IMPLEMENTATION PLAN
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